Change of direction...why?

[MP173]

Why would a scheduled manifest train (interchanged from another railroad) change directions?

Tonight an EB manifest entered a siding, took the EOT device from one end and placed it on the other end, then proceeded back WB. 

Is it possible they have the wrong train?

You operations folks, help me out on this.

ed

[diningcar]

Insufficient information!!!!

Where did this happen?

What RR interchanges at that location?

This obviously will have a logical explanation when those who have local knowledge have enough info to respond.

[blhanel]

Either he came off of a spur west of there that only allows eastbound entry to the main, or maybe he was actually a local that was finished servicing industries at that point and was returning to the originating terminal?

[Anonymous]

As Number Five from Short Circut  "Need input!"

[MP173]

NS train 17R is a daily train which originates at Fond du Lac, Ws on the CN.  It is typically a big, heavy manifest train with lots of Wisconsin and Western Canada traffic.  The train is destined for Columbus, Oh.

This afternoon it changed directions at South Wanatah, Indiana, running around itself and applying the EOT device, then headed back WEST, taking the siding at Spriggsboro (near Valparaiso, In).  It sat for 2.5 hours.

About an hour ago conversations overheard with dispatcher and a passing train revealed the train was going to Osborn, In (IHB interchange) and a crew would be taking it to Elkhart Yard.

Why?  No clue. 

Could be a derailment east of Ft Wayne (trains 262 and 215 have since passed going east).  These trains either are yarded at Ft Wayne (262 Triple Crown) or head south on the New Castle District (215). 

What are other reasons for the train to be turned around and sent to another district.  Note to those who dont know...Elkhart is a major classification hump yard on the ex Conrail Chicago to Cleveland line.

Hope this helps.

ed

[CShaveRR]

It definitely sounds like a "change in plans" scenario, and I'd offer a wreck as the most likely possibility--though I don't have any information on anything that would interfere.

[MP173]

It has been 24 hours and I heard nothing as to why this occurred.  Pretty strange occurance.  It sure seemed the NS dispatcher seemed a bit under pressure last night, just by the tone of his voice.  Nothing really was said by him or the crew members.

 

NS is back to normal tonight, although 217, the hot UPS train was about 4 hours late...hmm.

 

ed 

[rrnut282]

My WAG, is someone (the Chicago District Dispatcher) forgot to read the "memo" that said 17R had no work in Fort Wayne on the NKP that day and was to go via the NYC.  The "stress in his voice" may be due to to the fact that he knew he had a Monday morning "appointment" in the Chief's Office.  The crew conversations were minimal because they all had a hand in the error.  Again, this is just a guess from reading the above posts. 

 

FYI, 17R is tied down in Fort Wayne today with CN5419 in the lead.

[DMUinCT]

Was the crew ready to sunset and they wanted to get the train off the main?  Was that siding needed for a passing move?

[MP173]

I dont think 17R works Ft. Wayne.  I could be wrong about that, but I believe it is a solid Fond du Lac - Columbus train.  Now, there might be a Ft Wayne block, so perhaps that is it.

Dont think it would be his problem anyway...the train becomes "his" somewhere past the bridge in Chicago.  By that time, it would have been too late to have routed it to the Conrail side, unless it was only to go to Osborn and then turn left. 

The 17R Uturn train did not have CN units, only NS, so it must have been Friday's or Sunday's train. 

My guess is there was something wrong between Ft Wayne and Bellevue or Bellevue and Columbus which shut things down and thus it was rerouted to Elkhart to break into other trains.

Mack would possibly know as he runs to Columbus out of WVa.

ed

[nanaimo73]

Ed,

Could it have been a dimensional problem ? Do high/wides usually take the other route ?

[MP173]

Dale:

I didnt get to see the entire train.  It is quite a mystery to me.  I havent seen (or heard) of this in all my years. 

ed

[ValleyX]

Whatever it was, it would not be the fault of the crew unless they somehow took the wrong track when they initially tied onto the train.  The crew gets called for the train, reports for duty, follows whatever instructions given, checks for proper paperwork, and departs.  It isn't like they can choose their route and the crew isn't qualified over a multitude of routes, anyway (most likely).